Drawer Cabinet for Uninterrupted Robotic Loading/Unloading

Automated Cells & Equipment introduces the MT series drawer cabinet as a stand-alone, drop-in, part-presentation solution for robotic systems. The drawer-based solution enables parts to be placed onto simple fixtures located within each of the three or four sliding drawers. This setup provides consistent part locations for both robot pick-up and placement.

To use the cabinet, an operator opens each of the three drawers from outside the robot cell, places raw parts into each drawer fixture and then closes each drawer. Next, the operator starts the machine and robot cycles, enabling the robot to move to the top drawer, lift its handle, pull it into the robot cell and lock it into position for part unloading. The robot then unhooks from the handle, picks up the first part from the drawer and loads the machine tool. On the next cycle, a finished part is unloaded from the machine tool and a new raw part is loaded. The robot moves back to the drawer to place the finished part back into the drawer. As drawers are completed, the robot moves down to the next available drawer.

Loading and unloading the cabinet outside the robotic cell enables the machine tool to be loaded/unloaded without interruption. Each drawer can accommodate parts measuring 24" × 48" × 6". A four-drawer cabinet is also available with a 24" × 48" × 5" part area. Each drawer can be locked in any of three positions: inside the cell, inside the drawer cabinet or open on the operator side.

A drawer-locking system is provided on each drawer to lock the drawer in any of three positions either inside the cell, inside the drawer cabinet, or open on the operator side. Drawer capacity is 250 lbs distributed.

Additional features include a steel frame with integral fork truck pockets, an integral drip tray within each drawer, and drawer-position sensors that are pre-wired to an Ethernet I/P distribution block for connection to the automation control system.